I have a 1963 Convertible which I purchased about 3 years ago and when I elevate the headlights and turn them on the dash indicator is illuminated on the dash. The other day someone told me that my dash indicator light was wired wrong as the dash indicator should be illuminated only when the headlight buckets are down/retracted and the headlight switch is on. Can anyone please clarify this for me. Thank you

 

Yes the tell tell light should only light up with the buckets closed and the headlights on.

 

That is not EXACTLY correct. The word "only" makes it incorrect. The tell tale light should come on anytime the headlights are on and either or both buckets are NOT FULLY rotated to the open (up) position. The two buckets are wired in parallel, so if either is even 1/2" or less from fully up, the lamp will illuminate. It will stay illuminated until both are all the way up, opening the switches on the bucket. The two switches are normally closed (shorted internally) and the headlight switch puts 12v on the wire going to them. Then when the buckets get all the way open, the switch opens and removes the ground, turning off the lights. We are talking about the lamp that says "lights" on the dash and NOT the bright lights on round indicator.
If the "lights" lamp is coming on with the headlights on and the buckets are opening fully, the switch is either out of adjustment or has come loose from the bucket and the bolt is no longer hitting the button to open the switch. The two adjustment bolts are for where the headlights stop in the up and down position and are not for adjusting the tell tale lamp we are talking about. I am attaching a picture showing the location of the switches, black plastic, one on each bucket, and both must be in place and the plunger on the switch cannot be broken so that it doesn't stick through far enough for the bolt to hit it to open the circuit. These switches are opposite of most switches in that they are fully closed (passing current) until the button is pressed and that opens (turns off) the switch and the lamp. I hope I have indicated enough times that either switch not opening will light the lamp if the headlights are on. There are two screws as shown in the picture holding the switch in place. Make sure the switches are mounted up against the metal and the screws are tight. The switch plunger I mentioned cannot be seen in the picture, but it feeds through a hole and is pushed by the headlight rotation adjustment bolts I previously mentioned. The second picture shows the plunger for the switch that cannot be seen when switch is mounted.

 

Thank you for that great information and pictures. Now I can have the dash light lamp functioning properly in the near future.